can we install windows 8 guest on windows 7 host?

[Ann]

Hello,

i tried to install windows 8 guest on windows 7 host using oracle virtual box 4.2.6 version. but it was showed an error that enable Vt-x/AMD-V and RAM should be more than 4 GB. but i already enabled this option in BIOS of system and i used 8 GB RAM.

but it was allowed to install windows 7 guest on windows 7 host.

i succeeded installing windows 8 guest on windows 8 host of same system which had windows 7 host previously.

is it mandatory to have windows 8 host to install windows 8 guest?

does windows 7 host not support to install windows 8 guest?

please clarify these doubts and provide solution.

Thank you,

[dlharper]

The host and guest are totally independent of one another. It doesn't matter what host you have, you can install any guest provided you specify enough RAM, etc.

I think the problem you are running into is that in order to run a 64bit guest you must have VT-x/AMDv available. If your CPU supports it (and most modern ones do) and if it is enabled in the BIOS, then the most likely problem is that something else is using it. If you have Hyper-V running in the host, then that uses VT-x/AMDv, and it doesn't let anything else (such as VirtualBox) use it.

Windows 8 will run happily in 4GB RAM, but if you have more than 4GB you need the 64bit version of Windows.

[Ann]

Hello,

I installed windows 8 64 bit host on same CPU which previously had windows 7 64 bit. then it allowed me to install windows 8 32 bit guest.

so this seems the guest is depending on the host.

i didn't install any RSAT tools and didn't enable Hyper V on that machine.

i think it is not supporting because we are trying to run an upgraded windows 8 guest on windows 7 host.


Thank you

[mpack]

so this seems the guest is depending on the host.

No, it doesn't. What dlharper told you is correct.

A Win8 guest requires VT-x. If replacing your host OS now allows a Win8 guest then it simply means you found a rather over-complicated way to enable VT-x.

[Ann]

A Win8 guest requires VT-x. If replacing your host OS now allows a Win8 guest then it simply means you found a rather over-complicated way to enable VT-x.

every guest os needs VT-x/AMDv should be enable in BIOS. then only you can install guest os on VM. this is not particular for windows 8 even windows 7 guest also requires VT-x/AMDv to be enable. that is why we able to run windows 7 guest on windows 7 host.

my question is why we unable to install windows 8 guest on windows 7 host even though VT-x/AMDv is enabled and no other process is using VT-x/AMDv.

Thank you

[mpack]

every guest os needs VT-x/AMDv should be enable in BIOS. then only you can install guest os on VM.

Are you using a translation engine? Because that last post was very garbled, almost past the point of understanding.

Not every guest OS needs VT-x. 64bit guests do, and some newer "protected" operating systems such as Win8.x need it too. 32bit Linux and 32bit Windows versions up to Win7 can run without it, though even they might run better with it.

Regardless, in answer to the original question, Windows 8 as a guest does not require a Win8 host.